Politics

NORTH MIAMI (CBSMiami) – It’s Election Day for residents who live in two South Florida cities.

The first municipal election is in North Miami, where voters are going to the polls to elect a mayor, two council seats and also vote on five charter-amendment questions.

There are seven candidates running for mayor in North Miami.

The current mayor, Andre Pierre, is term-limited and cannot seek reelection.

The candidates are:

Gwendolyn Boyd, 58, who is a former Miami police major, Miramar police chief and North Miami police chief. She said that if she is elected as mayor, she will bring integrity to the dais.

Kevin Burns, 54, is a former mayor of the city who served two terms from 2005 to 2009.

Modira Escarment, 50, is a political newcomer who said his passion for helping others is why he is running for office.

Dr. Smith Joseph, 51, is a physician who has come under fire over whether he actually lives in the city, but said he met all requirements to run for office. Joseph said he believes in empowering youths and creating more programs for the elderly.

Jean Marcellus, 53, is a council member for District 3. He said he wants to build on the progress the city has made in recent years. May 7th, Marcellus was punched in the mouth by an acquaintance who didn’t want him to run for higher office.

Lucie Tondreau, 52, is a community activist.

Anna Pierre, 54, is a registered nurse who wants to unite the city but is always creating headlines with her assertions that she was a victim of Vodou sorcery and her most recent claim that she has been endorsed by Jesus Christ.

Whoever is elected as mayor will come into office at a time when the city will be approving the final plans of what will eventually be built on the Biscayne Landing site, the biggest development project the city has seen in years.

Click here to read more about the candidates from CBS4 News partner The Miami Herald.

The candidates say they want to address the perennial issues of crime, unemployment and economic development.

Sweetwater is also holding a municipal election for a single seat on the Sweetwater commission.

Incumbent interim commissioner Isolina Maroño is battling Deborah Centeno for the Group 4 seat. The seat will be for a four-year term.